What are the most influential single songs in rap/hip hop history and how/why

geechiedan

Rising Star
BGOL Investor


Artist: The Sugarhill Gang
Released: 1979
Impact: It is generally considered to be the song that first popularized hip hop in the United States and around the world. It was preserved into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2011, calling it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant"




Artist: Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Released: 1982
Impact: "The Message" was the first prominent hip hop song to provide a lyrical social commentary. It took rap music from the house parties to the social platforms later developed by groups like Public Enemy, N.W.A, and Rage Against the Machine.

From 1979 to today what single rap songs had the most influence and was a game changer either in rap music or in music in general?

Artist:
Released:
Impact:
 
I don't know but I would say Rappers delight because I wasn't around to remember the song when it came out but for some reason I knew some of the lyrics,"A hip hop...".I knew the song without actually knowing it,years later is when I actually listen to it and learned who rapped it.
 
first hip hop song/video to get airplay on mtv

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first hip hop song to go gold. gold was the standard back then.

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When "Change Clothes" came out, I watched ni99as take off their jerseys, and replace them with button-up shirts. More often than not, they had the same 3x T-shirt they wore with their jerseys hanging sloppily underneath.

That takes the cake, for me.



 
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first love song / hiphop ballad

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welcome to the mainstream / pop


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just fucking perfect... still best storytelling rhyme almost 30 years later

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made MCs think differently


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almost every popular rapper "borrowed" this flow for 4 years...
 
Rappers Delight-The Sugar Hill Gang: Introduced rap to the world.
King of Rock-Run DMC: Prove rap could hang with rock and roll.
The Message-Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five: Gave rap consciousness.
Don't Stop...Planet Rock-Africa Bambata and the Zulu Nation: Made rap dance.
I Need Love-LL Cool J: Showed rap had a soft side.
Light as a Rock-MC Lite: Made room for the sisters
The Bridge Is Over-Boogie Down Productions: Made Battle Rap Popular
All That Jazz-Stetsasonic: Jazzed rap up.
Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos-Public Enemy: Made rap political.
Gangster Gangster-NWA: Made West Coast Gangster rap relative.
Every Day People-Arrested Development: Introducing southern Hip Hop
Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang-Dr. Dre & Snoop Dog: West Coast Era
Brenda 's Having A Baby-Tupac: Thug Life takes over where Gangsta Rap left off.
Big Poppa-Notorious BIG: Brought the east coast back to life.
 
Self descruction compilation. And the syphany
Both are colaborations that transcend hip hop generations. Also brought unity to our community when black on black crime was crazy. Oh and artist over looked beefs for the greater good. And the shit was hot.and the video was watched alot and set trends. The afercan leather patches....
Cheers! Im on my phone its late so don't roast me for my grammar.
 
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